NBC has announced a late night poker series entitled "Poker After Dark." Hosted by Shana Hiatt, "Poker After Dark" will feature professional poker players in a winner-take-all competition for $120,000. Current pros scheduled include Phil Ivey, Doyle Brunson, Daniel Negreanu, and Gus Hansen. The show is set to begin on January 2nd.
PokerStars, The second-largest online poker site, has announced it's position on the new US gambling law. They feel that poker is a game of skill, and as such the new law does not apply. Therefore, PokerStars will continue to welcome US players.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is attempting to attach the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act to a Port Security Bill ready for vote. If passed, online poker playing in the US could be as risk. Tell your senators that you are opposed to a bill prohibiting internet gambling.
After 3 seasons, Shana Hiatt was replaced as hostess of the World Poker Tour. Now, she is suing her former employer for interfering with her ability to find poker work elsewhere. The WPT says there is a non-compete cause in her contract. The lawsuit claims Shana never signed it. One of the shows interested in Shana is NBC's National Heads Up Championship.
Harrah's Entertainment has filed a lawsuit against Binion Horseshoe Casino's former information technology director, Federico Schiavio, over ownership of the domain name WSOP.com. Harrah's argues that it owns the trademark on the "World Series of Poker" name, and that has applied for a patent on the "WSOP" name.